Ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration at the America’s Cup Park

The Port and the City of San Francisco came together on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the completion of the James R Herman Cruise Ship Terminal on Piers 27/29 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The building will be turned over to the America’s Cup Event Authority on March 1st, who will make it the centerpiece of the America’s Cup Park. The Cruise Ship Terminal will host the America’s Cup Media Center, and have areas for the competing teams, for public exhibitions, as well as food and beverage points. Following the Summer of Racing, it will be turned back to the Port and become a working Cruise Ship Terminal.

“I want to congratulate the City and the Port on achieving this milestone,” said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority. “It’s been a fantastic effort to get to this point. We’re very proud to be the first tenant of this facility, which will host the international media, as well as thousands of guests and the public, who will come to the America’s Cup Park this summer.”

The waterfront was buzzing with anticipation on a warm and sunny San Francisco afternoon as Mayor Edwin M. Lee told the crowd the project was an example of the legacy this America’s Cup will leave for the city.

“The new Cruise Terminal is a legacy project that will not only boost tourism and create jobs this summer during the America’s Cup races, but it will welcome visitors and residents to our waterfront for generations to come,” said Mayor Lee. “This major infrastructure project that is being delivered on time and on budget is the centerpiece of the America’s Cup Park and when it begins serving the cruise industry next year, it will provide a significant economic impact to our City.”

Following the America’s Cup, the Port is scheduled to complete the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal by 2014 to make it operational for cruise ships, and create a new 2.5 acre public park known as the Northeast Wharf Plaza.